"Everything is
permitted if God does not exist, and man is in consequence forlorn, for he
cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself. He
discovers forthwith, that he is without excuse. For if indeed existence
precedes essence, one will never be able to explain one’s action by reference
to a given and specific human nature; in other words, there is no determinism –
man is free, man is freedom. Nor, on the other hand, if God does not exist, are
we provided with any values or commands that could legitimize our behavior.
Thus we have neither behind us, nor before us in a luminous realm of values,
any means of justification or excuse. – We are left alone, without excuse. That
is what I mean when I say that man is condemned to be free. Condemned, because
he did not create himself, yet is nevertheless at liberty, and from the moment
that he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does.
"
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